How important is it to dig holes separately from planting time?

[Pothead32]

Quick question. Is it absolutely necessary to dig the holes and amend the soil then wait for a few weeks before actually planting your seedlings in the holes, or can it be done with no wait in between? I will be using all organic nutes in the soil.
Much thanks in advance.

 

[Xare]

Its very important because animals will be attracted to the smell and they will dig up the soil in the hole. They can smell stuff like Bonemeal and Bloodmeal and they go looking there for an easy meal.

If you have a small seedling there it will get torn up and knocked over or uprooted and may dry out and die in the sun.

If you amend and prep the holes about two weeks in advance it gives the animals a chance to explore the holes and learn there is no food there. Also the smell fades with time.

 

[tropical]

What about with Fox Farm's Ocean Forest?? I've never had a problem just digging the holes and transplanting right after with that stuff. I guess it may be different if you are using your own soil mix with "fresh" bone meal, blood meal, etc.

 

[Xare]

Animals are less attracted to guano or manure. Other organic amendments like Kelpmeal or Greensand, potash or alfalfa meal ect.. provide them no interest.

You could formulate your own organic mix with those types of selected amendments that the animals do not like. Then there is less risk to doing the holes and planting at the same time.

Stuff like bloodmeal, bonemeal, fish or crab meals you would not want to use.


I personally like using Bloodmeal, Bonemeal, Kelpmeal, and two kinds of Guano. Then let the holes sit to cook for two weeks. When I come back some holes are dug up.

 

[tropical]

This year I think I'm going to go ahead and dig my holes first anyways. I've got some seedlings I'll probably keep inside for another 2 weeks or so, but I'll probably go ahead and get the holes dug sometime this week and put the FFOF into each. I'm going to put some fishing line around the spots along with some track traps to see what the animal traffic is like.

 

[Pothead32]

I live in Michigan and we don't really have any carnivorous animals around here which would be attracted to blood or bone meal. We have alot of deer but I plan on putting some deterants around my spot to keep them at bay (Irish Spring, my piss and maby some moth balls). Is there any reason besides animals that the amended soil would need to sit for a few weeks before planting the seedlings?

 

[Xare]

I am also in Michigan. Its the omnivores you have to look out for. Like a Badger or Skunk.

 

[Pothead32]

Thanx for the info guys, +rep to ya's

 

[Shabang]

I also live in michigan and during my first outdoor grow 3 years had some problems with this. I didnt let my holes sit and loss about ten plants due to animals digging in the fresh soil. I ended up being able to save 3 of them plus the ones that didnt get dug up. Since i didnt use any bloodmeal or bone meal or anything like that i did some research on it. Apparently some animals are attracted to the smell of fresh soil in the search for small animals or grubs. IMO and as stated above let ur holes sit for a week or two if time allows and u shouldnt have any problems. Also try not to dig more than you have to when transplanting ur plants to minimize the odor of the soil. I use Fox Farm's Ocean Forest potting soil, bleach in water bottles, Irish springs soap, and also put chicken wire around each plant. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[soohighrightnow]

I also live in michigan and during my first outdoor grow 3 years had some problems with this. I didnt let my holes sit and loss about ten plants due to animals digging in the fresh soil. I ended up being able to save 3 of them plus the ones that didnt get dug up. Since i didnt use any bloodmeal or bone meal or anything like that i did some research on it. Apparently some animals are attracted to the smell of fresh soil in the search for small animals or grubs. IMO and as stated above let ur holes sit for a week or two if time allows and u shouldnt have any problems. Also try not to dig more than you have to when transplanting ur plants to minimize the odor of the soil. I use Fox Farm's Ocean Forest potting soil, bleach in water bottles, Irish springs soap, and also put chicken wire around each plant. Hope this helps and good luck.

u fill your entire hole with ffof??? cause i thot bout doing that too.. and bleach in water bottles???to scare off animals and such??? and the chicken wire i think is a must for some ppl depending on the location...this will be my first year outdoors and def useing chicken wire cause i gots a lota deer and even more rabbits...little fury bastards!!!

 

[Shabang]

u fill your entire hole with ffof??? cause i thot bout doing that too.. and bleach in water bottles???to scare off animals and such??? and the chicken wire i think is a must for some ppl depending on the location...this will be my first year outdoors and def useing chicken wire cause i gots a lota deer and even more rabbits...little fury bastards!!!

I fill em all the way to the top with FFOF but never have more than 15 or so plants otherwise it can get really expensive. I fill water bottles bout half way with bleach and bury them to within an inch of the top of the bottle so you are unable to see the bottles if someone would stumble upon my grow(highly unlikely tho). Then just unscrew the cap and the smell keeps the animals away. I don't have proof of this but have used it in recent years and have had no problems with critters so i will be safe now so im not sorry later lol. I scatter about 6 burried bottles around my grow and remove the chicken wire when the plants get about 3 foot tall so they blend in easier. Good luck wit ur grow

 

[Pothead32]

Thanks for the tips Shabang. I am going to go dig my holes this week and then transplant my plants the last week of this month. That should give any nosy little critters a chance to investigate and then hopefully leave me alone. +rep for the info...